Electric switch



July 21, 1931. J. G. PETERSON 1,815,635

ELECTRIC SWITQH Filed Dec. 16, 1927 Patented July 21, 1931 J'OHANN G.PETERSON, OF WEST HARTFORD, GON'NECTIGUT ELECTRIC SWITCH Applicationfiled December 16, 1927. Serial No. 240,438.

My invention relates to electric switches.

It has for its object to provide an improved switch. A further object ofmy invention is to provide an improved switch having improved actuatingmeans, and also improved indicating means adapted to cooperate with saidactuating means. Other objects of my invention are to provide animproved switch of the through type used on electric heater pads or thelike and also, more particularly, to provide such a switch equipped withimproved actuating means whereby accidental operation is minimized whenthe switch is pulled by the cord in the bed, and the operation ofadjusting the switch is facilitated and made more convenient, whileimproved cooperating indicating means are also provided whereby theposition of the switch, in any of its various positions, may be readilydetermined either by sight or touch. These and other objects andadvantages of my improved construction will, however,

' hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown, for purposes of illustration,one embodiment which my invention may assume iILpractice.

In these drawings, 7 Figure 1 is a front view of a switch equippedwith'my improvement, the switch actuating member being shown in dottedlines in different positions of adjustment;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the switch actuating membershown in the off position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch casmg with the cover thereofremoved, and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the switch with a portion broken away tofacilitate illustra- 40 tion.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown a switch of the throughswitch type comprising a two-part, longitudinally divided casinghavingabase portion 1 and a cover-portion 2, each provided with usualconductor apertures 1', 2' in their ends, and which enclose between thema switch mechanism of any suitable form, herein indicated generally as aunit 3 having usual external conductor terminals 3' and a pivotedactuating member movable withinthe limits of a slot'extendinglongitudinally of one side of the casing, both the casing and theactuating member for this switch being herein of imroved form, ashereinafter more fully Brought out.

More particularly considering the structure shown, it will be noted thatthe casing member 1, while adapted to receive and position the switchunit 3 therein in a well known manner, i. e. as shown in Fig. 3, isherein provided with a side wall lwhich is of uniform height all aroundthe switch aperture. Moreover, it will be noted that the switch 3 isprovided with an operating member 5 adapted in a usual manner to moveabout a pivot 6, and so projecting from the switch mechanism 3 that theactuating end portion of the member 5 which extends outside the casingmember 1 is dis osed in a plane above the wall 4 of that caslng. Thus,it will be observed that no special slotting of the casing member 1 isrequired and that, I

since it-is identical at each end, the switch 3 may be assembled thereinin the position in Fig. 3 with great facilit and despatch regardless ofwhich end 0 the casing 1 is at either end of the switch unit 3, noparticular relative position of the switch mechanism or unit 3 and thecasing member 1 being required.

Here-it will also be noted that the actuating member 5 is provided witha'la'te'rally disposed portion 7 extending laterall to one side of itsbody portion and toward t is front of the casing member 2. It will alsobe noted that this portion 7 moves outside the casing member 2 closelyadjacent the latter and in a path substantially conforming to theoutwardly curved side 7 of that casing member and, since the casingmember 1 is provided with a similar side 7 also in a path conformingsubstantially to the curvature of the latter side. This portion 7 isherein also provided with a pointer or indicator forming end 8,preferably also slightly inclined at its outer end toward the adjacentcorner leading to the more flat supporting surface 2 of the casing 2, asshown in Fig. 4. The outwardly curved side 7' of the casing 2 is hereinalso provided with a slot 9 extending longitudinally thereof and in theedge thereof adjacent the member 5, this slotbeing adapted to permitfree movement of that member into a series of different positions spacedlongitudinally along the slot and the curved sides 7' and 7" of thecasing as the member 5 is' moved into the different positions of theswitch. Moreover, the casing 2 is herein also provided on its more flatsupporting face 2 with suitable indicating means, including theindications Off, Low, Med. and High, radially disposed opposite thedifferent positions of the actuating member 5 and each so arranged as'tobe in alinement with the pointer or indicator end 8 of the actuatingmember when the same is in that position, and thereby with the pointeror indicator cooperate to indicate clearly the position of the actuatingmember and of the switch.

Here it will also be noted that between these indications and the pathof the ointer or indicator end of the actuating memaer, cooperatingindicating means are provided enabling the DOSlLlOll of the switchactuating member to be determined by touch. Herein, these indicatinmeans are at the edge of the surface 2 and etween the indications Offetc. and the surface 7 and are in the form of a series of spacedprojections 10, three projections, for example, being placed oppositethe word High, two opposite the abbreviation indicating Medium, and oneopposite the word Low, while none is provided opposite the word Off.Thus, with the switch actuatin member in any position an operator, simpy by the sense of touch and feeling with the same finger or thumb whichactuates the actuatin member and in a. zone closely adjacent the outerend of the latter member, may determine the position of the switch even.in the dark.

As a'result of my improved construction, it will be observed that it ismade possible to make one of the casing members, herein the casingmember 1, of reversible construction and to confine all specialconstruction to the cover member 2, both the slot and allthe stationaryindicating means being on this cover member. Thus not only is the costof the casin member 1 reduced, but the process of assem ly of the switchunits therein is exdited, only one member, namely the cover, eingprovided which requires any special location relative to the switchunit. 'Further, by the provision of my improved actuating member ,itwill be noted that an exceedingly efi'ective actuating means is providedadapted to be moved without effort or undue bending back or rubbing ofthe thumb or finger of the hand holding the switch. Further, it willbenoted that, due to its construction and arrangement substantially flushwith the outwardly curved side of the casing and between the more flatsupporting sides 1 and 2 thereof, any tendency of the actuating memberto catch or hook in other things, as for example in bed clothes,clothing, or the like, is minimized, with a resultant minimizing ofaccidental, operations of the switch which are sometimes highlydangerous. More particularly, it will be noted that the new actuatingend or portion is so constructed and disposed as not only to be close tothe outer surface of the curved portion. 7 in ,its various positions,but, in its end, or full off and full on positions, very efl'ectuallyshielded or shrouded by rounded portions 7 7", the middle portions ofwhich project laterally beyond the actuating end when in these positionsin such manner as to form a shroud therefor and thereby minimizecatching of the actuating end and resultant dangerous accidentaloperation thereof when the switch is pulled longitudinally by its conductors. The new actuating end also herein cooperates effectively as apart of the indicating mechanism, pointing to each written indication onthe casing member 2 and moving into adjacency to the touch indicatormeans so that the position of the switch may be readily determinedeither by sight, or by feeling in the dark. These and other advantagesof my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodimentwhich m invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that thesame is shown for purposes of illustration only and that the inventionmay be modified and embodied in various other forms without departingfrom its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a switch casing normally holdable in the hand andhaving an outwardly curved side and a slot extending longitudinally insaid side, a switch mechanism enclosed in and insulated by said casinghaving a projecting swinging actuating member movable in said slot, andan actuating portion for said member disposed substantially at rightangles to said projecting member and substantially flush with thesurface of said curved side outside said slot and normally operative byafinger of the hand holding said casing.

2. In combination, a switch casing normally holdable in the hand andhaving a longitudinally disposed outwardly curved side and a slotextending longitudinally in said side, a switch mechanism enclosed inand insulated by said casing having a projecting swinging actuatingmember movable in said slot, and an actuating portion for said memberdisposed transversely relative to said slot closely adjacent said curvedside and having an engaging surface substantially llush and an actuatingportion for said member disposed substantially flush with the surface ofsaid curved side and normally operable from outside said slot by afinger of the hand holding said casing.

4. In combination, a two part longitudinally divided through switchcasing normally holdable in the hand and having one part adapted toco-operate with the other in re ceiving a switch and also having anoutwardly curved side, while the other part has a slot therein extendinglongitudinally of said side adjacent the latter, a-switch enclosed inand insulated by said casing having a projecting swinging actuatingmember movable in said slot into different longitudinally spacedpositions along the latter, and an operating portion for said memberextending laterally over said slotted part away from said firstmentioned part and having a working surface substantially flush with thecurved side of said first mentioned part.

5'. In combination, a switch casing normally holdable in the hand andhaving an outwardly curved side and a slot extending longitudinally ofsaid side, a switch mechanism enclosed in and insulated by said casinghaving a pro ecting actuating member movable in said slot along saidcurved side, and a laterally extending actuating portion for said memberand extending only to one side of said slot and having an engagingsurface normally engageable by a finger of the hand holding said casingand substantially flush with the surface of said curved side.

6. In combination, a switch casing normally holdable in the hand andhaving an outwardly curved side and a slot extending longitudinally ofsaid side, a switch mechanism enclosed in and insulated by said casinghaving a projecting actuating member movable in said slot along saidcurved side, and a laterally extending actuating portion for said memberand extending only to one side of said slot and having an engagingsurface normally engageable by a finger of the hand holding said casingand substantially flush with the surface of said side and a pointerportion at its extremity deflected.

inward to. a point more closely adjacent the surface of said casing.

7. In combination, a switch casing nor mally holdable the hand duringswitch operation and having an outwardly curve d side and a longitudinalslot in that side thereof, a switch mechanism enclosed in and insulatedby said casing having a projecting swinging operating member movablerela- -tive to said slot longitudinally of said casing, a laterallyextending actuating portion therefor outside said slot normallyengageable by a finger of the hand holding said casing and moving in anare substantially conforming to the curvature of said curved side,

and means on said casing and disposed ad-' jacent the path of saidportion comprising a series of different projections opposite differentpositions thereof.

8. The combination with an electric through switch casing havingconductor apertures in its ends, a longitudinally disposed outwardlycurved side therebetween having its intermediate portion projectingfarther than its ends from the longitudinal center line of the casing,and a slot extending longitudinally of said curved side, and a switchmechanism enclosed in and insulated by said casing having conductorconnections at its ends for conductors extending through said apertures,and a single swinging actuating member movable longitudinally of thecurved side of said casing and having a plurality of different operatingpositions in said slot including off and on positions at opposite endsof the latter and an intermediate position between said ends, of anactuating portion for said actuating member having a working surfacesubstantially flush with said curved side, saidactuating portion beingdis osable in its ofl and on positions behind sai intermediate portionand protected thereby in said off and on positions.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHANN G. PETERSON.

